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The Master of Science in Biology
The Master of Science program has a thesis and a non-thesis track. The thesis track is recommended for students interested in pursuing additional graduate training and careers in research. The non-thesis track is recommended for students seeking a terminal graduate degree for a career that does not require research experience and for those interested in future study at a professional school. Students admitted under one track may switch to the other with the approval of their Advisory Committee and the Graduate Studies Committee.
Admission procedures are the same for both thesis and non-thesis tracks, except that applicants will not be considered for the thesis track until they have identified a faculty member willing to supervise their thesis research. If a thesis advisor has been identified, the student should notify the Graduate Coordinator.
PREREQUISITES
Prerequisites for acceptance into a Master's Degree program in biology include 32 semester hours of basic courses in biology. A student who is deficient in one or more areas of biology may, at the discretion of the advisory committee, be required to make up the deficiency. An undergraduate GPA of at least 3.0, a satisfactory Graduate Record Examination general score, and 3 supportive letters of recommendation are among the criteria evaluated for regular admission.
Thesis Track
A candidate for the degree of Master of Science must present acceptable grades for a minimum of 30 hours of courses approved for graduate credit, including not more than 6 hours devoted to thesis credits. Of the 24 non-thesis hours, at least 18 must be from courses in the Department of Biology. At least 12 of the non-thesis hours must be in courses at the 500 level or above, including 2 hours of the Graduate Seminar in biology. Students will also take 1 hour of Colloquium in Biological Science each semester they are in residence and have stipend support from the department; this course does not count toward the credit hours required for the degree. A research thesis is required of all students in this track. Students must also take a written comprehensive examination and a final examination in defense of the thesis conducted by the student's Advisory Committee.
Non-Thesis Track
A candidate for the degree of Master of Science must present acceptable grades for a minimum of 36 hours of courses approved for graduate credit, including not more than 3 hours devoted to Advanced Problems (BIOL 560, 561, and 564). Thesis hours (BIOL 599) cannot be applied to this requirement. At least 30 hours must be from courses in the Department of Biology. At least 18 hours must be in courses at the 500 level or above, including 2 hours of the Graduate Seminar in biology. Students will also take 1 hour of Colloquium in Biological Science each semester they are in residence and have stipend support from the department; this course does not count toward the credit hours required for the degree. At least 3 hours of graduate course work must be in an area of a physical science or mathematics outside of biology. Students are required to pass written and oral comprehensive examinations conducted by the student's Advisory Committee.
The following links will provide additional information about applying to the program: